The midnight shift cut at the General Motors’ Oshawa plant has been postponed to Jan. 30, 2026, the company and the union representing workers confirmed on Tuesday.
The change means some 750 GM workers will remain on the job until the new year, while 1,500 more who work for auto part suppliers will likely have their jobs extended as well.
Last week, CBC News reported the supplier TFT Global Inc. had planned to slash nearly 250 jobs by the end of this month. On Tuesday, that company confirmed by email those workers will keep their jobs until January.
GM’s third line shift was previously expected to be cut in early November this year, according to Unifor Local 222 President Jeff Gray — though the company had not publicly committed to a date. Since May, Unifor and government representatives have been lobbying the auto giant to maintain production levels at the Oshawa plant, which builds the Chevrolet Silverado.
“We want to keep this truck rolling as it is right now,” Gray told CBC News on Tuesday.
“Our members here in Oshawa build a high quality truck. They do it efficiently, they do it safely … they make General Motors a lot of money.”
GM spokesperson Ariane Pereira confirmed the three shifts will continue through January 2026 in an email on Tuesday.
“At that time, the plant will return to a two-shift operation and continue preparations to build the next generation of full-size, gas-powered pickups,” she said.
“We continue to work closely with Unifor to support employees throughout this transition.”
Chris Waugh, the Unifor chairperson for the Oshawa plant, says the union will continue pressuring GM to keep all three shifts.
“It’s reminding the company that these are our jobs, not American jobs,” he said.
Oshawa has 2nd highest unemployment rate in the country
In May, GM announced it was moving to two-shift operation amid what it called an “evolving trade environment.” That announcement came after U.S. President Donald Trump levelled a 25 per cent tariff on auto parts that aren’t CUSMA-compliant and the non-U.S. portion of assembled vehicles in April.
A Unifor memo posted Tuesday continued to blame the potential line cut on “dirty politics from the U.S.”
Last week, CBC News reported GM supplier TFT Global Inc. planned to slash nearly 250 jobs by the end of this month. On Tuesday, that company confirmed those workers will keep their jobs until January. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
The temporary reprieve is a positive for Oshawa’s economy.
Statistics Canada information released last week shows Oshawa’s unemployment rate has climbed to nine per cent, the second highest in the country.
Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter said on Sunday he’s “very concerned” about the rising unemployment rate during an interview on CBC’s Rosemary Barton Live, adding he’s hopeful governments can work with GM to prevent the third shift from being cut.
“We need a plan to move forward, to protect those jobs,” he said.
The only city with a higher unemployment rate is Windsor, which has also been stung by the auto tariffs.
The postponed shift cut is welcome news for families who rely on those jobs, Carter said on Tuesday.
He said General Motors “absolutely” sees a future in Oshawa.
“All I’ve heard from the senior leadership team at General Motors is that Oshawa plays an important role, not only in the Canadian automotive industry, but also in North America,” Carter said.
“They’re going to fight as hard as they possibly can and make sure that we continue to produce vehicles here in the great city of Oshawa.”